Beijing Drum Tower Ticket & Traditional Drum Show

Climb the Drum Tower
at the north end of the Central Axis

The Drum Tower is a crimson tower at the northern end of Beijing’s Central Axis that served as the capital’s official timekeeping center during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. Your ticket covers entry to the grounds and the upper exhibition floor, reached by steep historic stone stairs. Learn how the deep sound of giant drums once marked the day for citizens and emperors alike.

Watch a traditional drum show
under the high wooden rafters

Inside the tower, a live traditional drumming performance recreates the rhythms that once rang across the old capital to mark the hours. Feel the powerful vibrations of the replica drums up close. Show times can change with the season, so you receive the latest schedule by message before your visit, along with tips on when to enter and when to head upstairs before the show.

See ancient timekeeping devices
and look out over hutong rooftops

The exhibition displays historic timekeeping devices such as bronze water clocks and incense clocks, used to track the stars and measure time before mechanical clocks were invented. From the outdoor terrace, gaze over the endless grey-tiled roofs of the surrounding hutongs and the lanes stretching toward Shichahai Lake.

※ Drum show times may vary by season.
※ Entry to the nearby Bell Tower is included only with the “Drum Tower & Bell Tower Ticket” option.